I have been a big fan of GU Energy Labs for quite some time and just this year started using GU's Roctane as part of my training nutrition plan while training for my first half Ironman.
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| My bowl of GU LOVE |
Now I am sure you are wondering what is the difference between regular GU gel and GU Roctane right?
Well, I think this excerpt from GU's website explains it very well:
Let’s paint a picture here – you’ve been training and racing for years now. You’ve got general endurance nutrition nailed and you know what power intervals do for you. You stay away from junk food unless it’s after an Ironman in which case you may consume a truckload. Bricks have become fun and you’ve rationalized a training schedule that should get you committed to an asylum, or therapy, or both. And you know what wires get crossed in your brain after 10 hours in the saddle or on the trail, and what the effects are on those around you – or the voices you hear from imaginary people… So where do you go from here?
We created the first gel in the early 90‘s and hopefully that has helped you progress in your racing career. But at this point you’ve got all the low hanging endurance nutrition fruit picked which means that recovery, both during and after the effort, is likely your critical training and racing challenge. Recovery after a workout or race may be coming along nicely. But how about active recovery during the race or workout? That’s a lot tougher to get right. That’s why we took the original GU Energy Gel and cranked the dial on all the good stuff, especially what you need to recover en route.
OKG is an amino acid complex that inhibits the body’s tendency to break down muscle fiber while also inhibiting tissue damage. This is critical when training and racing for multiple hours. In ultra-distance events, delaying fatigue is the name of the game. So that’s why OKG is in Roctane. You’ll also find histidine which slows down the nasty effects of acid build up in the muscles. Oh, and there’s a ton of other ingredients to help with ultra distance events:
•More branch chain amino acids – limits production of serotonin to lessen fatigue and increase mental focus.
•More citrates – speeds the conversion of carbs into energy. That’s really good at hour 8.
So less fatigue, delayed acid build up, more focus, faster energy conversion, and delayed muscle tissue breakdown – all things that make a difference in ultra endurance events. If you are doing shorter, less severe efforts there are other gels and chewables in the GU lineup to support your goals, namely the original Energy Gel and Chomps. But if you are going long, go with Roctane.
I have to say that training for a half-iron distance has been so much fun and I have been using Roctane the entire time and I have yet to have a bad workout...until yesterday.
While sitting there trying to analyze what went WRONG with yesterday's brick, it hit me.
It was the first time I was doing a workout longer than 90 minutes that I did not use Roctane. SERIOUSLY!!
I used another gel product that I had on hand in my bike pack as I forgot to grab some GU Roctane heading out the door. Remember that GI pain, bloated feeling I had during yesterday's run? Ummmm, yup. Epic fail.
Lesson Learned.
GU recently launched a new Roctane flavor-Chocolate Raspberry.
I have been using Cherry Lime (definitely my favorite!), Blueberry Pomegranate (very good!) and Pineapple (awesome!) so when I got the Chocolate Raspberry flavor I was a little unsure. I did not think I would be a fan of a chocolate flavored gel-I know that when it is 90* and humid, I'm working hard and needing a boost, a sticky sweet chocolate flavor is the last thing I want. BUT, I was actually surprised at how good the Chocolate Raspberry was! Not toooo sweet with a refreshing berry flavor--it reminded me of my favorite truffles!
I have even tossed a couple in the freezer for a bit before heading out on hot days-and by the time I am Re-Roc'ing they are nice and cool. A great treat while out on a hot day.
So I am going to keep rockin' the Roctane and training hard for Timberman! The super awesome folks at Outside PR want you to Roctane too so they will hook one lucky Miles Muscles & Mommyhood reader with their own GU package.
How do you enter to win this fabulous GU Energy Labs package?
You MUST be a follower of my blog. Not a follower? Easy-just click the FOLLOW button to the right side of the screen. Once you have done that you can enter several ways.
Please leave a seperate comment for each entry.
1) Check out the GU Energy Labs website - tell me how you are fueling your long workouts and how would GU Roctane help you? What Roctane flavor would you most like to try? What other GU product do you find intriguing?
2) Like GU Energy Labs on Facebook.
3) Follow GU Energy Labs on Twitter! Tweet about this contest and please include @milesmusclesmom and @GUEnergyLabs in your tweet.
4) Spread the word about this giveaway! Link on your blog, share on Facebook, etc.
5) Tell me your worst BONK story!!
I will accept entries for this contest until Sunday, July 31st at midnight. One random winner will be selected and announced shortly after that date.
GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY TRAINING!
The GU products review on my blog were given to me. All opinions expressed here are my own and were not influenced in any way, shape or from by GU Energy Labs or Outside PR.
What a great week and a half it has been--training has been going really well and I am enjoying myself immensely. I love that dog tired feeling at the end of a good workout but I also love feeling like I had hours left in me too!
Sunday's 10 mile run was a little off the training plan-it was supposed to be 10 miles pacing at 9:00 minute miles but I left the house a little annoyed with my darling husband and the first two miles were 8:20's. I felt good so I just kept going in the mid-8 pace range. The sun was shining, I was running along the beach and it was Easter Sunday.
Life.Is.GOOD.
Really, really good. I shed my shirt around mile 4 and ran in just my tank. At the turn around, I sucked down a GU Roctane (pineapple...yum!) some water and headed back. The wind was ripping off the ocean and slowed me down a bit for a couple miles (9:02 and 9:08) but I finished the run with an average pace of 8:40 and then did 2 hours of yard work and then did a ton of Spring cleaning, including washing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees! (yes, it needed a GOOD scrubbin')
I was Little-Miss-GO-Getter this weekend.
Must of been the GU Roctane~
Last year when I started racking up the miles on the road, I discovered just how important nutrition and hydration can be. Those extra calories can really make a difference on how long you can go and how you feel while going. GU gels were the first product I tried and it remains my go-to gel when I am out running, biking and tri-ing. When Scott from Outside PR sent me a big sampler of GU products to review, I was more than happy to be the guinea pig, I had been wanting to try the Chomps and Roctane for quite a while!
The first GU product on my TO DO list was the GU Roctane. I waited to try this one before a long ride on the trainer and chose to try the Cherry Lime flavor first. Loved it! This is certainly my favorite of all the GU flavors. The perfect combo of sweet and tart. The Roctane did not dissapoint either--they don't call it GU Roctane Ultra Endurance Energy Gel for nothing!
How is Roctane different than the "regular" GU Gel?
From the GU Energy Labs website:
We start with original GU's superior mix of complex and simple carbohydrates that provide quick and sustained energy, electrolytes for replenishment and caffeine to tap more power and diminish pain. Fundamentally, Roctane is GU, just with more of the stuff that makes original GU so effective (histidine, branched chain amino acids, citrates) plus OKG, an added amino acid complex that lessens damage to muscle tissue during hard training or racing and speeds recovery. You can use GU and Roctane somewhat interchangeably, but Roctane is specifically formulated for your most intense training and racing. The higher concentrations of these key ingredients give you more of what your body needs when you need it most.
The next up on the list was the GU Chomps. Chomps are little gummies which deliver a blend of carbohydrates, amino acids, antioxidants and electrolytes in a chewable form.
The first Chomps I tried were the Cranberry Apple ones--on a cold, rainy 2 hour bike ride. My first impression of the Chomps was less than desirable. They were hard to chew, hard to get out of my teeth and hard to get down. I could not imagine having to choke these down on race day.
The second time I tried them was just this weekend on another 2 hour bike ride--but this time it was warm and sunny. I had packed the Orange flavor into my cycling vest and this time it was a totally different experience. They were soft and easy to get down. They were also quite yummy and reminded me of the little candy orange slices I would eat as a kid.
Temperature certainly made a big difference on the Chomps experience. The cold definitely affected the texture of them so I will make sure that it is not 30 degrees out next time I bring these along.
The newest member of the GU Family is the GU Brew Electrolyte Tablets. Proper hydration is so important. Not only DURING training but BEFORE and AFTER!!
OPTIMAL HYDRATION takes place in the days and weeks before an event or after a hard workout. Use GU Brew Electrolyte Tablets whenever, wherever, and you'll see a boost in preparation, sustenance, as well as recover.
I started using the GU Brew Electrolyte Tablets during cycling classes with Charles on Tuesday's which is always a guaranteed sweat-fest. I also started having these whenever I felt "thirsty". It is is a little tablet you just toss into your water bottle and it provides all the electrolytes you need with a just a little bit of fizz and a light flavor. At only 10 calories and 1 gram of carb, I don't have to worry about adding a ton of calories to my day. I just love the Peach Tea and I see these tabs being a big part of my training life, especially come this summer when the heat and humidity hit. Oh, and my training volume goes UP as well!!
Rarely are there times when I don't feel like eating food after a workout but some days I just want FLUIDS, like a protein shake or recovery drink! This is where I add in the GU Brew Recovery. Just mix this package with 16-24 oz of water, SHAKE WELL and drink. Make sure to shake really well-the first time I used the Recovery formula, I did not shake it very well and it was kind of clumpy. I was so dang ready for it though, I drank it down--chunks and all. I enjoyed both flavors equally-Orange Pineapple and Strawberry Watermelon. Recovery will deliver 250 calories, 52 grams of carb and 8 grams of protein per serving.
The premium quality ingredients in GU Recovery Brew help you quickly replenish energy stores and rebuild muscles after an intense workout. You’ll notice a difference when you compare us to the competition.
• Protein: GU Recovery Brew relies on whey protein isolate -- not cheaper whey protein concentrate -- to create a higher quality and more effective product.
• Amino Acids: Arginine and Glutamine promote recovery by mitigating the effects of intense training and supporting a strong immune system.
• Carbs: Both simple and complex carbs (and lots of ‘em!) in optimal balance will re-fuel your competitive fire and get you back to training and racing on schedule.
• Vitamins: Over 100% of daily allowances of vitamins C and E in every serving. Your free radicals will hate us!
All in all I am very pleased with all of the GU products I got to try out and I will continue to use GU Energy Labs as my "go to" source for fuel while training and racing.
Here is YOUR chance to win your very own GU Energy Labs Sampler!!
As usual, this giveaway is open to followers of Miles, Muscles & Mommyhood.
Please leave a separate comment for each entry.
1) MANDATORY ENTRY: Answer at least ONE of the following questions. Yes, you may answer all three and earn an entry for each answer:
a) what GU product do you want to try most & why?
b) what is your favorite GU flavor/product?
c) tell me about a time you wish you had GU!
2) Like GU Energy Labs on Facebook and tell them Jen from Miles, Muscles & Mommyhood sent you. Tell them what GU product you want to try next!
3) Follow GU Energy Labs on Twitter and follow ME on Twitter. Tweet about this contest and be sure to include @MilesMusclesMom and @GUEnergyLabs in your tweet.
4) Did you enter my Tommie Copper giveaway? If you did, you earned yourself an extra entry!
5) What year did GU Energy Gels launch? Answer correctly and get an additional entry!
6) Guess my finish time for my next Sprint Triathlon-The Polarbear Tri on May 7th.
It is a 525 yard swim, an 11 mile bike and a 5k partial trail run.
The closest guess to my actual finish time will win a BONUS prize from me!!
That is 8 ways to earn an entry into this exciting giveaway!!
I will accept entries until Saturday, May 7th at Midnight. I will select a winner at random from all eligible entries in one of the usual ways (random.org, Lola picking names from a hat, asking someone to pick a number, etc.)
Disclaimer: The GU Energy Labs products were sent to me to review and I was not compensated for my opinion or asked to give a positive review in exchange for all this GU. All views expressed here are my own.
